Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their ceasefire for at least one more day on Thursday, allowing negotiators to continue working on a deal to exchange Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinians facing court trials or prison terms in Israel. The truce has also permitted humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the Israeli military announced the “operational pause” would continue in light of these negotiations. Hamas, who released 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners, committed to extending the truce for a seventh day, with the conditions of the ceasefire remaining unchanged.
Hamas reported that Israel declined their offer to release seven women, children, and the bodies of three dead hostages in exchange for the truce extension. Prior to the extension agreement, both parties had expressed their readiness to resume fighting if a resolution was not reached. Since the beginning of the ceasefire, 97 hostages have been freed, while the Israeli military notes that 145 hostages remain in Gaza.
International diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages and bring aid to Gaza have been underway, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arriving in Tel Aviv to discuss the ceasefire extension. President Joe Biden’s administration was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas and has urged Israel to clarify areas where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during military operations in southern Gaza. The United Nations is warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.